Work shapes a third of our lives. If you’re unsure about how to genuinely feel about work in a positive way, look into Philosophy as guidance. It offers more than abstract ideas on how to think about work, and how to stay fully human in the middle of it. From the Stoics’ emphasis on virtue, to Karl Marx’s warning about alienation, to Hannah Arendt’s call to rise above mere survival, to Dostoevsky’s reflections on freedom, to McLuhan’s reminder about the media that shapes our work-life, and Frankl’s insistence that meaning is always possible. Here’s how to work without losing yourself.
1. See Work as Character Training (Stoicism)
Work is not just a paycheck; it’s a daily arena for practicing patience, courage, integrity, and discipline. Integrity: Do the job honestly, especially when no one notices. Excellence: Focus on the quality of your effort, not just the outcome. Detachment: Don’t let…
